G.L.i.B-bed: Persuasion
This would be the first of James Borg’s works to feature in my reading list. And I had no expectations about it. Just a blank expression on my mind as I began to leaf through the red – covered volume. Time and again, British authors reiterate my conviction of my preference for their writing technique (and choice of words) over any of their other counterparts. Reading content created by a Briton elevates and educates me. I’m also left with a feeling of my time well – spent, my mind more exposed, my diction improved and increased, and my writing duly challenged. Strange though. Like most people around the world, I grew up under the weighted influence of American entertainment – cartoons, books, films, speech. And after almost four decades of conscious (and sometimes, unconscious) orientation, the British writers still hold taut my heartstrings to their style of penmanship. James Borg’s Persuasion is, like its title signals, all about the art of influencing people over to your point of view. Divided into 10 chapters, it delves into such topics geared towards making an influence of the reader – being a good listener, keeping attention, body language, good recall, telephone telepathy, negotiating skills, personality types, etc. It was an entertaining and educative read, staying true to my expectations of British authors. An apt end to my reading diet for the month of November. Here are some interesting excerpts: Man’s inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively, skillfully and with understanding to another person. Attention is held only when interest is rising. Research shows continually that people take in only about 40 percent of what they hear. (And that’s without interruptions) Recognize that most decisions of acceptance – for anything – are made on an emotional level. It is important to get acceptance when feeling is running high. Lack of eye contact gives the impression that you are talking at people instead of to them. A poor memory can destroy relationships. People prefer to deal with others who speak in an open communication fashion; it leads to less”more
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